Advent in Bavaria 2024
We invite you to discover Bavaria in all its facets. From idyllic country villages to the romantic castles of King Ludwig II, from untouched nature to pulsating cities, from old customs to outdoor activities.
Throughout Bavaria, Advent represents a period of great anticipation and waiting for Christmas. And it is at the very beginning of Advent when the magical Christmas markets are opened.
The old melodies of the Christmas musical tradition can be heard in the fairy-tale houses and streets, full of poetic memories such as “Silent Night”, “O Tannenbaum”, “O du fröhliche” and “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”. In Bavaria, Advent is a truly magical period and the only way to understand the true meaning that the Bavarians attribute to it, is to live with them and be infected by the magic of this tradition.
Bavaria is one of the most important regions in Europe. Discover the many treasures that Bavaria has in store for you, and we look forward to your visit and to getting to know your musical culture.
Bavaria is a tourist region with magnificent cities rich in culture, unique natural landscapes and traditions that are still alive. From the point of view of traditions, Bavaria is very different. Customs and traditions can inspire a modern and relaxed lifestyle.
The atmosphere during Advent is truly magical, from other times. In the stalls you will find Christmas decorations for all tastes, hand-painted wooden figurines, floral decorations to hang on the door or windows of your home … and to warm up from the cold you can taste the excellent Glühwein (mulled wine) or taste the typical Christmas sweets such as Lebkuchen, spiced and marzipan sweets or Stollen. Cultural experiences in connection with music and traditions certainly do not get in the background in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Day 1
- Arrival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the afternoon.
- Check-in and accommodation in the reserved rooms.
- Late afternoon open-air concert at the traditional Garmisch-Partenkirchen Christmas market.
- Dinner in hotel and overnight.
Day 2
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Visit of Linderhof Castle and the Benedictine Abbey of Ettal.
- Lunch in Oberammergau.
- Return to the hotel and preparation for the concert.
- Advent concert in the church together with a local choir.
- Typical Bavarian dinner in a brewery.
Day 3
- Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
- Option 1) Transfer to the church for the mass service.
- Option 2) Departure for the visit of Neuschwanstein Castle.
- Departure for the return home.
Surroundings
Oberammergau
This city is one of the postcard attractions of Bavaria and owes its fame to the fresco houses, their carvers and the depiction of the Passion of Christ. The skills of the Oberammergau craftsmen were already known in the 16th century and in the mid-19th century a school was founded in which several generations of wood artists were trained, some of whom only specialized in crucifixes.
Ettal
The Benedictine Abbey of Ettal was founded in 1330 by Emperor Ludwig IV, the Bavarian, but experienced a real bloom only from 1700, which went hand in hand with the development of the Baroque in Bavaria and all of southern Germany. In addition to an energetic resumption of religious life, a school or the knight academy was founded, which represented a cross between high school and university and formed a number of important personalities in Bavarian and Austrian politics. The school is now a prestigious college that is still run by the Benedictines and welcomes around 450 students.
Ludwig Castles
Linderhof, the favorite prediletta
The history of Linderhof Palace – the name derives from a mighty linden tree that has stood in the park for centuries – goes back to the 15th century, a time when in the Graswang Valley, in southern Bavaria and almost on the border with Austria , there was a large farm very close to the Benedictine abbey of Ettal. King Maximilian II turned it into a hunting lodge in the 19th century and in 1869 his son Ludwig II bought the surrounding land with the intention of building a “royal villa”.
Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of Bavaria’s landmarks worldwide. It is the fairytale castle par excellence, which the “fairy tale king” Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) built from 1869 according to a project by the set designer Christian Jank. The idea of building it in the style of the old German feudal residences came to the monarch after he was impressed by a visit to the medieval fortress Wartburg in Thuringia in 1867. Neuschwanstein dominates from its 965 meter high location the villages of Füssen and Schwangau and the wonderful surrounding landscape with the Hohenschwangau Castle, which was rebuilt by King Maximilian II, Ludwig’s father, on the ruins of a medieval fortress, and several lakes, among them the small Alpsee which highlights for the beauty.
Summary
Dates: Yearly during advent
Duration: 3 Days – 2 Nights
Location: Garmisch – Partenkirchen
